David Brooks commits to Wales: England call was a 'misunderstanding'

David Brooks insists his future is with Wales and that he will not be returning to the England set-up.

The highly-rated Sheffield United forward was named the best player when England won the Under-20 Toulon Tournament last summer. But Warrington-born Brooks -- whose mother Cathryn is from Llangollen -- switched to Wales a few months later and was capped against France and Panama in November, producing a man-of-the-match performance in the latter.

Brooks could still represent England as those games were friendlies, but the 20-year-old sees himself firmly part of the Wales camp as he prepares to win his third cap against Mexico in California on Tuesday morning.

"I'm committed to Wales and don't have any interest in going back to England,'' Brooks said. "I wouldn't be travelling across the world if I didn't want to be here. I've just got to work hard here to get in the manager's plans in the future.''

Brooks was actually named in the Wales Toulon squad last May before his name was withdrawn and he appeared in the England party. But he explained that was due to a breakdown in communication and that his heart was always set on playing for Wales.

"I had expressed my interest to Wales, but it hadn't come around at the time when England offered for me to go the Toulon Tournament,'' Brooks said. "I had no knowledge of being in the Wales squad, and when the squad came out I'd already made plans to go away with England.

"It was a misunderstanding on the social media front, and I had to fulfil the agreement I had with England. Thankfully, after that Wales got in touch and it hadn't put them off that I'd played for England.

"I spoke to Rob Page [Wales U21 manager] and he said 'Just go away and have a good tournament with England' and come down to a camp with us after.

"I took to it and it was a special moment making my debut in France. When I found out I was in the squad for that game I rang my mam straight after training. She'd already seen the news and she was crying on the phone.''

Brooks' sparkling early-season form at Sheffield United saw him linked to several Premier League clubs, among them Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham. But he was struck down by glandular fever in December and did not play in the Championship for three months.

"It did hit me quite hard,'' Brooks said. "I was in hospital for a short period and it was difficult because you never knew what would happen. With an injury you know roughly when you're going to be back, but they just said 'Listen, it's whenever you feel comfortable'.

"I still get tired and you don't really know if it's glandular fever or you're just tired. I'm OK in terms of being able to do everything fully, but it's only just getting to that point now.''